U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District

08/31/2026

08/27/2026

Keeping channels deep and traffic moving! Maintenance dredging is officially kicking off in the lower Charleston Harbor.

Operations begin this month and are scheduled for completion by next fall. Mariners are urged to exercise caution and monitor VHF communications while dredge vessels are operating.

As one of the nation's 17 strategic ports and the fourth-busiest container port on the East Coast, maintaining these waterways keeps both national defense and local commerce sailing strong around Charleston.

08/24/2026

Happy National Hydropower Day!

Did you know the Cooper River Rediversion Project in St. Stephen does a whole lot more than just generate electricity?

While it is busy powering over 40,000 Lowcountry homes with energy, its primary mission is actually rediversion. By reducing sediment flow into the Charleston Harbor, this USACE project saves taxpayers over $36 million every year in dredging costs!

On top of that, our state-of-the-art fish lift helps local fish migrate safely up the Santee River system.

Saving the harbor, helping the fish, and powering 40,000 homes.

Not a bad day at the office.

08/19/2026

BIG NEWS! The Georgetown Harbor maintenance dredging project is officially complete!

After a 2-month, $3.5 million operation, we’ve restored safe and reliable channel depths in Georgetown’s vital federal navigation channels. Our contractor, Southern Dredging, removed over 561,000 cubic yards of sand and silt—enough to fill a line of dump trucks stretching from Georgetown to Charlotte!

This project successfully clears critical navigation hazards, ensuring safe passage for both commercial and recreational boaters. It marks the first major dredging in the inner harbor since 2008 and is a huge step forward for the region's economic prosperity and the Georgetown Port Master Plan.

We’re proud to have completed this work while protecting local wildlife, including sea turtles and sturgeon, in compliance with all environmental standards.

08/18/2026

Smooth Sailing on a Historic Final Voyage!

Today, the historic USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626 / MTS-626) departed the Joint Base Lindsey Graham Weapons Station on her final transit to be dismantled. Making this safe departure possible was a true team effort behind the scenes by your USACE Charleston District survey and construction teams!

While we are often known for high-profile projects like beach renourishments, vital harbor maintenance is what keeps our nation’s maritime history—and naval assets—moving safely.

To pave the way, our specialized survey team identified a restrictive shoal (shallow area) blocking the channel's clearance.

Utilizing those highly accurate survey coordinates, our Construction Office and Civil Works branch quickly dredged the area to provide the precise under-keel clearance required for the massive ship to be towed out safely.

Did You Know?
Commissioned in 1964 as a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, the USS Daniel Webster served our nation throughout the Cold War, completing 77 strategic deterrent patrols.

Her history is deeply tied to Charleston, having departed on her very first deterrent patrol right here in September 1964.

After decommissioning in 1990, she was converted into a Moored Training Ship (MTS-626), training generations of Navy nuclear operators right here in South Carolina.

We are incredibly proud of our team's expertise in making this final, historic tow a flawless success. Fair winds and following seas, Daniel Webster!

08/17/2026

Great news, Grand Strand — your beaches are officially renourished and fully reopened!

As of this weekend, we have completed this vital coastal storm risk management project, placing over 1.5 million cubic yards of sand across our coastline to widen our shorelines and reinforce our defenses.

Over the course of the project, crews placed more than 1.55 million cubic yards of sand across nearly 28 miles of coastline:

• North Myrtle Beach: Nearly 675,000 cubic yards across 8.29 miles (Completed Jan. 31)
• Myrtle Beach: 275,000 cubic yards across 11.94 miles (Completed July 3)
• Surfside Beach & Garden City: Over 600,000 cubic yards along 7.7 miles (Completed Aug. 15)

To put this in perspective, moving this much sand would require approximately 155,000 dump trucks. Lined up bumper-to-bumper, they would stretch all the way from Charleston, SC, to New York City!

While these newly widened beaches are perfect for grabbing a beach chair and soaking up the sun, they serve a much greater purpose. The beach you enjoy is our first line of defense against Mother Nature, protecting our coastal communities, supporting our local economy, and keeping the Grand Strand strong for years to come.

All sections are now 100% open to the public. Come on down and enjoy these beautiful, wider beaches!

07/28/2026

starts with planning. We were excited to welcome the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston to our planning and response exercise today.

Efforts like this help to ensure that plans are coordinated when the community needs us most.

07/21/2026

Yup, we’re still out here! Here’s why our Grand Strand Renourishment is happening this summer.

We know a wide, sandy beach is great for your summer vacation, but coastal protection is our number one goal. While we originally planned to wrap up before summer, complex machinery means complex repairs-and our dredges needed some serious TLC this spring.

Instead of pausing for the season, we’re pushing through. Why? Because hurricane season doesn’t wait. This sand acts as a critical buffer, absorbing storm surge to protect the homes, businesses, and lives behind the dunes.

Timeline Update:
Surfside Beach: Expected completion by Mid-August
Garden City: Expected completion by End of August

Thank you for your patience as we work to protect our coastline!

07/16/2026

Day or night, we stand ready to support our navigation partners.

Our survey team supported the response to a crane collapse in the Cooper River this past weekend to ensure the navigation channel remained safe.

Thanks to their efforts, shipping continued without delay. Just another way we're keeping the ports running to support the region.